Another Large Corn Crop Expected to be Planted in WisconsinWisconsin Ag Connection - 04/02/2013

Wisconsin farmers are expected to put their bets on corn again this year as they prepare for another growing season. The state's agriculture department released the latest prospecting plantings report on Monday, which showed that as of March 1, producers intend to plant 4.35 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2013. If realized, it would tie 2012 as the third largest planted acreage on record, behind the record high 4.52 million acres planted in 1981 and the 4.4 million acres planted in 1982.

Soybean planting intentions in Wisconsin are 1.70 million acres, down slightly from the 1.71 million acres planted in 2012. The winter wheat estimate is for 21 percent more acres in 2013 than last year. The state's forecast is 320,000 acres. Wisconsin oat planting intentions are 225,000 acres, up 5,000 acres from
2012.

As of March 1, Wisconsin farmers intend to harvested 1.38 million acres of hay in 2013. If realized, it would be 70,000 acres below the record low acreage harvested in 2012.

Nationally, corn growers intend to plant 97.3 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2013, up slightly from last year and six percent higher than in 2011. If realized, this will represent the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 when an estimated 102 million acres were planted.

Soybean planted area for 2013 is estimated at 77.1 million acres, down slightly from last year but the fourth highest on record, if realized. All wheat planted area for 2013 is estimated at 56.4 million acres, up one percent from 2012. The 2013 winter wheat planted area, at 42.0 million acres, is two percent above last year and up slightly from the previous estimate.